Callinicus IV of Constantinople (Greek:Καλλίνικος), bornConstantine Mavrikios (Κωνσταντῖνος Μαυρίκιος; 1713–1791) wasEcumenical Patriarch of Constantinople for a few months in 1757 and a writer and scholar.

Callinicus IV is sometime numbered as Callinicus III because his predecessorCallinicus III of Constantinople, who was elected in 1726 but died before being enthroned, is sometimes not counted amongst the patriarchs.^[a]

Constantine Mavrikios (Callinicus is his religious name) was born inZagora, Greece in 1713 and in 1728 he moved toConstantinople. In 1740, he was ordained adeacon and on 28 August 1741, he was appointed GreatProtosyncellus of the Patriarchate. On 23 September 1743, he was appointed theMetropolitan Bishop of Proilavo (i.e.Brăila, in Romania), a position he kept till 1748 when he returned to Constantinople.^[6]

His years in Constantinople were marked by the polemic debate in the Orthodox community about whether converts theRoman Catholic andArmenian Apostolic Churches needed to be re-baptised. These communities were particularly numerous after theOttoman–Venetian War wherein theOttoman Empire reconquered the Venetian-ruledPeloponnese.

The supporters of the invalidity of Catholic and Armenian baptisms, and consequently of the need to re-baptise, were PatriarchCyril V of Constantinople supported by some scholars such asEugenios Voulgaris and Eustratios Argenti, and a large portion of the populace, instigated by the demagogic monk Auxentios.^[3] The opposition to re-baptism was formed by the larger part of the Metropolitans led by Callinicus. Their position was not due to compliance with theLatins, but rather that they considered the re-baptisms an innovation not envisaged by the ancientcanons and contrary to the liturgicalpraxis.

When theHoly Synod voted on 28 April 1755 against the positions of Cyril V, the latter exiled the members of the Holy Synod who were contrary to his view.^[7] Callinicus was persecuted and had to escape. In 1755, Cyril V issued his formal "Oros (Tome) of the Holy Great Church of Christ" which required re-baptism for all converts in any case.

In 1756, Callinicus took refuge in theFrenchembassy in Constantinople, and here he obtained a large amount of money which was given to the SultanOsman III. This resulted in Cyril's deposition on 16 January 1757 and in the appointment of Callinicus to the Patriarchate.^[7] However, his appointment was strongly opposed by a mob, and his enthronement could be celebrated only with the presence of Ottoman soldiers. After the ceremony, the mob tried unsuccessfully to seize him.^[7] This opposition to Callinicus IV hindered any attempt of him to retire theOros, and his position was so difficult that he had to resign 22 July 1757,^[4] in favor ofSeraphim II of Constantinople who remained neutral on the issue.^[3]

After his resignation, Callinicus IV was exiled toLimnos and later to theSinai where he stayed in theSaint Catherine's Monastery. In this obligatory residence, he worked in the ancient library of the Monastery. In January 1761, he escaped and returned on the slay in Constantinople, where he obtained to be forgiven, and in October 1763 he returned to his birth town,Zagora.^[6]

The last period of his life was passed in Zagora, where he founded the local library and devoted himself topatristics studies and to writing.^[8] He died in Zagora in 1791.

• Frazee, Charles (2006) [1983].Catholics and Sultans - The Church and the Ottoman Empire 1453–1923.Cambridge University Press.ISBN 9780521027007.

• 1713 births
• 1791 deaths
• People from Zagora, Greece
• 18th-century Greek writers
• 18th-century ecumenical patriarchs of Constantinople
• Metropolitans of Brăila

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